George Boyle
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, was considered plain by some due to its simplicity and lack of embellishment. Markle, who had previously expressed a preference for simple styles, chose Waight Keller for her elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour. The dress, made of white silk with an open boat neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, was described as timeless minimal elegance by Kensington Palace. While some critics found the dress boring or unflattering, others praised its modernity and playfulness, reflecting Markle's personal style and setting trends for years to come.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding date | 19 May 2018 |
| Wedding location | St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England |
| Dress designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Dress design house | Givenchy |
| Dress design inspiration | Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn |
| Dress design features | Simple, white, elegant, pure white sheen, double-bonded silk cady, soft matte, luminous, 6 seams, 3/4 length sleeves, open boat neckline, 16-foot train, triple silk organza underskirt |
| Veil design features | Embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, California poppy, wintersweet, blue fabric from Markle's first date with Prince Harry |
| Dress cost | $265,000 |
| Dress design time | 3,900 hours |
| Number of fittings | 8 |
| Number of guests | 600 |
| Number of viewers | 1.9 billion |
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What You'll Learn
Meghan Markle's personal style preferences
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with a bateau or boat neckline, three-quarter-length "bracelet" sleeves, and just six seams. The dress was devoid of embellishment and crafted in white silk with precise seam work that helped create a fluted shape as she walked up the aisle. The gown featured an open neckline, described as "a small, rounded, neat shoulder," and a sculptural silhouette—all signatures of the French fashion house.
The dress was designed in collaboration with Markle, who wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent. Markle chose Waight Keller because of her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour." The dress sought to "convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts," while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house. Markle's personal style preferences were reflected in the dress's simplicity, timeless minimal elegance, and progressive take on tradition.
Markle has long been an admirer of the style of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, describing her wedding gown as "everything goals." Markle's choice of designer was also a bold statement, as she chose a contemporary fashion house and a British woman designer, rather than following the tradition of commissioning a British designer.
Markle's second wedding dress of the day, worn to the evening reception, was designed by Stella McCartney. This gown was a high-neck, halter-neck sheath dress, with a modern and wholly Meghan silhouette. The choice of designer was again reflective of Markle's personal style and values, as McCartney's design house promotes eco-friendly fashion, vegan leathers, and sustainability, which are on-brand for the philanthropic Duchess of Sussex.
Overall, Meghan Markle's wedding dress choices reflected her personal style preferences for simplicity, elegance, and a modern take on tradition, with a touch of rebellion.
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The dress designer, Clare Waight Keller
Meghan Markle's wedding dress designer, Clare Waight Keller, is a British stylist and fashion designer born in Birmingham, England, on 19 August 1970. She studied at Ravensbourne College of Art, now Ravensbourne University London, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Fashion and a master's degree from the Royal College of Art.
Keller started her career at Calvin Klein in New York as a stylist for the women's ready-to-wear line before moving to Ralph Lauren to work on the Purple Label menswear line. In 2000, she was hired by Tom Ford to join Gucci, where she was responsible for women's ready-to-wear and accessories until her departure in 2004. The following year, she became the artistic director of Pringle of Scotland. She has also served as the creative head of Chloé and Givenchy, where she has been the artistic director since 2017.
Keller was chosen by Markle for her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". The two worked closely together to design a dress that showcased "timeless minimal elegance". The dress was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. It was designed to convey "modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts" while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house.
In addition to designing Markle's wedding dress, Keller has had a successful career in the fashion industry. She has worked with luxury fashion houses and mass-market brands, including Uniqlo, for which she launched a collection in 2023. She has also been recognised for her contributions to the industry, receiving the British Designer of the Year Womenswear Award in 2018 and being named one of Time magazine's most influential people in 2019.
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The dress's simplicity and lack of embellishment
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with a bateau or boat neckline, three-quarter-length "bracelet" sleeves, and just six seams. The dress was described as "timeless minimal elegance" in a statement released by Kensington Palace.
The simplicity and lack of embellishment on Meghan Markle's wedding dress was a departure from traditional royal wedding styles, which often feature lace, embroidery, and other decorations. Markle's dress was also unique in that it was designed by a British woman, rather than following the tradition of commissioning a British designer, as Queen Victoria, Princess Kate, and Queen Elizabeth II did.
Markle's choice of designer and the simplicity of the dress may have been a statement of her modernity and willingness to depart from certain royal traditions. The dress's sleek lines and sharp cuts paid homage to the history of the Givenchy house while also conveying a sense of playfulness and modernity.
The dress also reflected Markle's personal style, as she had previously expressed a preference for simple styles and had admired the simple wedding gown of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. The dress was also in line with American fashion, which tends to be more practical and less adorned than European fashions.
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The dress's symbolism and meaning
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with a bateau neckline, three-quarter sleeves, and just six seams. It was devoid of embellishment, featuring precise seam work that helped create a fluted shape as she walked up the aisle.
The dress symbolised Meghan's spirit, modernity, freshness, and cleanness, according to Waight Keller. The designer also said that the dress sought to "convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts" while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house. The dress's simplicity and lack of adornment also reflected American fashion, which has always been more practical than European styles.
The dress was also a bold and rebellious choice, as Meghan chose a French designer instead of following Queen Victoria's example of commissioning a British designer. This set the tone for Meghan's view that she wouldn't bend to every whim of the monarchy, tradition or not.
The dress was also symbolic of Meghan's personal style and individualistic taste. She had previously expressed her admiration for the style of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, describing her wedding gown as "everything goals". Meghan's dress also paid homage to Audrey Hepburn's bateau-neck wedding dress in the 1957 film Funny Face, designed by Hubert de Givenchy.
The veil, on the other hand, was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Meghan's home state of California and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. A piece of the blue dress from Meghan's first date with Prince Harry was also stitched into the veil.
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Comparison to other royal wedding dresses
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The dress was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The design was described as having a "timeless minimal elegance" and sought to convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house.
In comparison to other royal wedding dresses, Meghan Markle's dress was notably more simple and understated. For example, Kate Middleton's dress had more shape, structure, and intricate details that held significant meaning for her, the royal family, and England as a nation. Similarly, Princess Diana's wedding gown, designed by Elizabeth Emanuel, was known for its opulent and intricate design, featuring lace and crystal embellishments.
Some commentators suggested that Markle's dress might not be a traditional white wedding dress, as she had been married previously. Markle's choice of a simple and elegant design may have been influenced by her desire to embrace her personal style and avoid a flashy or overly detailed dress as an American marrying into the royal family. Additionally, Markle has long been an admirer of the style of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who wore a simple and elegant wedding gown.
In contrast to the more opulent and intricate designs often seen in royal wedding dresses, Markle's dress was described by some as "boring" and "ugly." However, others praised the dress for its elegance and modernity, with designer Elizabeth Emanuel commenting that the gown made a "solid fashion statement."
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, artistic director of Givenchy. The dress was described as "timeless minimal elegance" by Kensington Palace, and was designed to showcase modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts. Markle chose Waight Keller because she admired the designer's elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour.
The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, featuring six meticulously placed seams to construct a contoured silhouette. The dress also featured an open boat neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, with a 16-foot-long train and a triple silk organza underskirt.
The dress was inspired by Markle's personal style, with references to classic Hollywood gowns, such as Audrey Hepburn's bateau-neck wedding dress in the film *Funny Face*. Markle also drew inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding gown, which similarly surprised everyone with its simplicity.
The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Markle's home state of California and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. The veil also included a piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry.
After the ceremony, Markle changed into a Stella McCartney high-neck, halter-neck dress for the evening reception, bringing a modern touch to traditional royal aesthetics.
